Carolyn's Blog

Going to the annual 3 day Wilmington Flower Market has notoriously meant dealing with rain and muddy grounds. But this year, the sun shone down, and the winds blew on this combination carnival, display of local shops and food, and plants and flowers galore on May 7-9. Benefiting children's charities since 1921, this event is a great opportunity to bring the family and wander around on a hopefully sunny day, and I challenge locals to come and not see at least 5 people they know as either volunteers behind the plant tables or at the children's games. I have worn the red apron over white clothes many years either hawking plants or helping the vendors in the market, and always got a kick out of it.

For the last couple of years, the year round star of Rockford Park, Rockford Tower has been restored and open to anyone who cares to climb the 132 stairs that wind around the water tank and up to the observation room at the top. It is a fabulous view of Wilmington, from the "Rollins" building on Route 202 to the Delaware Memorial Bridges and downtown Wilmington to the south.

Built  between 1899 and 1902 as  "a large pavilion and observatory" Rockford Tower was located on what was called Mt. Salem Hill, the highest point in the city at 330 feet above sea level. Not only was it to be an attraction, but was to serve as a water storage tower for the city of Wilmington, Delaware. The half-million-gallon water storage tank and observatory is constructed of natural field stone and is an example of the Italian Renaissance Revival style. Rockford Tower is 57 feet in diameter at the base, 75 feet high to the floor of the observatory, and reaches a total height of 115 feet.

Here are a couple of pictures taken from the top of the tower, including a view of downtown Wilmington, Delaware.